Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Review Article

Prescription of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Selection of Acupoints in Pattern-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Insomnia: A Systematic Review

Table 6

The most commonly used acupoints and auricular points in the combined traditional needle acupuncture and auricular acupressure treatment for insomnia in subjects diagnosed with different TCM patternsa.
 Deficiency of both the heart and spleen  
(心 脾兩 虛)		Hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency   
(陰 虛火 旺)		Liver-qi stagnation transforming into fire   
(肝 鬱化 火)		Heart-kidney noninteraction   
(心 腎不 交)		Qi deficiency of the heart and gallbladder  
(心 膽氣 虛)
No. of studies that examined the TCM patternN = 15N = 8N = 6N = 8N = 6
Acupointsb     
 Sanyinjiao (SP6)66.7% 50.0% 83.3% 62.5% 66.7%
 Baihui (GV20)66.7% 75.0% 83.3% 62.5% 50.0%
 Shenmen (HT7)66.7%62.5%33.3% 75.0% 66.7%
 Sishencong (EX-HN1)53.3% 62.5% 66.7% 25.0% 50.0%
 Neiguan (PC6)46.7% 37.5% 50.0% 50.0% 33.3%
 Anmian (EX-HN22)33.3% 37.5% /37.5% 33.3%
 Zusanli (ST36)40.0% 25.0%33.3% //
 Taixi (Kl13)/75.0% /62.5% 33.3%
 Taichong (LR3)/25.0% 83.3% //
 Xinshu (BL15)46.7% //75.0% /
 Fengchi (GB20)20.0%25.0% ///
 Shenshu (BL23)/25.0% /50.0% /
 Pishu (BL20)40.0% ////
 Benshen (GB13)/25.0%///
 Shenting (GV24)/25.0% ///
 Yintang (EX-HN3)/37.5% ///
 Ganshu (BL18)//33.3%//
 Dazhui (GVl4)///25.0%/
 Shenmai (BL62)///25.0% /
 Zhaohai (Kl6)///25.0% /
 Danshu (BLl9)////33.3%
Auricular pointsb     
 Shenmen100.0% 100.0% 100.0%100.0% 100.0%
 Subcortex80.0% 100.0% 83.3% 50.0% 100.0%
 Heart73.3% 62.5% 50.0% 62.5% 83.3%
 Kidney46.7% 50.0% 33.3% 75.0% 66.7%
 Sympathesis46.7% 62.5% 66.7% 25.0%50.0%
 Spleen66.7% 25.0%33.3% 37.5% 50.0%
 Liver26.7% 37.5% 66.7% 25.0% 66.7%
 Endocrine26.7% 62.5% 50.0% /50.0%
 Brain40.0% 25.0% /50.0% 33.3%
 Occiput20.0%25.0% 33.3% 25.0% /
 Neurasthenia point26.7% 37.5% 33.3%//
 Stomach26.7% ////
 Gallbladder//33.3% //
aOther TCM patterns are not listed because studies are too few to give reliable information.
bAcupoints and auricular points used in at least 50% of the studies on a particular TCM pattern are bolded.